Mariusz Duda has been immersed in the world of electronic music for his entire career. Fans of Riverside and Lunatic Soul will remember entire albums that paid tribute to this genre. Personally, I love when he visits this world because his style is still apparent, even if the results are a little different. His new solo album Afr ai d releases November 17th, and it might be his best electronic offering yet.
Mariusz needs no introduction for those who read my reviews. Seems so weird to me that, in what feels like a moment of time, his career has spanned twenty years and many albums from various projects. And yet, he still creates. You may recall his Lockdown Trilogy of electronic albums, each one with a different focus and tone, and I still really like those records. I think Afr ai d may be on a different level, though.
This album is more diverse than his last three. This one has more bass, more guitar, and even more voices—he does not sing, per se, but multiple tracks have human voice and harmony. The song structures are brilliant, too, with complex and I daresay epic arrangements making the album feel big and eventful. I would point to the work of Mike Oldfield as a reference here because of how he used an array of instruments and electronic tones to make something that transcended genre boundaries. For example, Mariusz uses quite a bit of guitar on this one, but in short spurts that are perfectly placed and eccentrically composed. That reminds me of Mike, for sure.
But there is more to this record. It is obviously a foray into social commentary, an exploration of our addiction to social media and now AI, and really, it’s an indictment of the powers behind those things who use them as tools to control and to spread fear. I think you can hear this in the music. There seems to be multiple layers here that contrast a sense of frivolity and amusement with a darker, more sinister presence below the surface. Many of the tracks have brighter, punchier electronic sounds, but those are paired with dark bass grooves and haunting vocal harmonies. It makes for an album that can produce both airy and shadowy feelings, and can raise the hairs on your neck. It often reminds me of Lunatic Soul’s Impressions for that reason.
You could toss all the themes and interesting layers to the side, and this album quite simply has good songs. The array of tones and loops would mean nothing without strong melodies and fascinating transitions. I think the singles are a good indication of this. “Embracing the Unknown” is a dark masterpiece with murky melodies, sparks of guitar, and a terrific sense of progression and change. I love that one so much. “Bots’ Party” might seem odd at first, and it indeed does have some spunk and color, but there is a river of melody and beauty that runs right through it, and it is just so damn catchy. “I Love to Chat With You” is different, too, with its ocean of lovely vocals creating a serene and purple aura. I love all of those tracks, and the rest of the album is just as bright.
I love the opener “Taming Nightmares” which starts out slowly, but soon a gorgeous atmosphere sweeps in and guitar musings serenade the nightmares away. “Good Morning Fearmongering” is another favorite with its cyberpunk vibes and gritty electronics; it honestly reminds me of the Deus Ex video games. “Fake Me Deep, Murf” is a strange track, I will say, with its off-kilter keys and odd beat. That one is really growing on me.
Two of my favorites come near the end. “Why So Serious, Cassandra” is such a cool track with its menacing voices and evocative aura as it opens into a Tangerine Dream style sound. The beat will surely get your foot bouncing. “Mid Journey to Freedom” has such an amazing, soothing tone to it. I love the delicate and yet furiously bubbling melody with its layers of textures and ideas. By the end, it feels like half a dozen different rhythms and melodies spiraling around and through each other.
Mariusz Duda’s foray into electronic music is nothing new, but he keeps getting better at it. I love the touches of guitar and bass that really bring this record to life, but the tracks themselves are simply well-written and remarkable. I really need to grab a vinyl copy of this because I know it will sound amazing on my old analog system.
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The PROG Mind 